UNLABELLED: Preterm infants are at significant risk of neuro-developmental disorders at school-age. MRI is a potentially useful screening tool of such disorders. Using FLAIR imaging in the preterm infants at term, here we demonstrate that abnormal low-intensity signal in the white matter predicts the neuro-developmental outcome at 6 years. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical factors associated with white matter appearance on MRI obtained at term were investigated in 210 preterm infants. RESULTS: Low-intensity signal on FLAIR imaging was commonly observed (69%) at <2 months corrected-age. Its incidence correlated with corrected-age at scan, maternal pyrexia and cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Low-intensity signal on FLAIR significantly correlated with performance and full-scale developmental quotients, whereas diffuse high-intensity signal on T2-weighted imaging correlated only with the full-scale developmental quotient at 6 years (n = 75, WISC-R). FLAIR imaging, but not T2-weighted imaging, predicted mild neuro-developmental delay. CONCLUSIONS: FLAIR appeared to detect subtle white matter injury related with neuro-developmental disorders at school-age, whereas T2-weighted imaging seemed to identify relatively more severe injury. FLAIR is a potentially sensitive screening tool that is readily available and easily interpretable.
UNLABELLED: Preterm infants are at significant risk of neuro-developmental disorders at school-age. MRI is a potentially useful screening tool of such disorders. Using FLAIR imaging in the preterm infants at term, here we demonstrate that abnormal low-intensity signal in the white matter predicts the neuro-developmental outcome at 6 years. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical factors associated with white matter appearance on MRI obtained at term were investigated in 210 preterm infants. RESULTS: Low-intensity signal on FLAIR imaging was commonly observed (69%) at <2 months corrected-age. Its incidence correlated with corrected-age at scan, maternal pyrexia and cystic periventricular leukomalacia. Low-intensity signal on FLAIR significantly correlated with performance and full-scale developmental quotients, whereas diffuse high-intensity signal on T2-weighted imaging correlated only with the full-scale developmental quotient at 6 years (n = 75, WISC-R). FLAIR imaging, but not T2-weighted imaging, predicted mild neuro-developmental delay. CONCLUSIONS: FLAIR appeared to detect subtle white matter injury related with neuro-developmental disorders at school-age, whereas T2-weighted imaging seemed to identify relatively more severe injury. FLAIR is a potentially sensitive screening tool that is readily available and easily interpretable.
Authors: Laurel A Slaughter; Eliana Bonfante-Mejia; Susan R Hintz; Igor Dvorchik; Nehal A Parikh Journal: Neonatology Date: 2016-04-07 Impact factor: 4.035
Authors: Ines M Mürner-Lavanchy; Hiroyuki Kidokoro; Deanne K Thompson; Lex W Doyle; Jeanie L Y Cheong; Rod W Hunt; Terrie E Inder; Peter J Anderson Journal: J Pediatr Date: 2018-11-07 Impact factor: 4.406